Breath on us!

 

ACTS OF THE SHLICHIM Chapter 2: (Aramaic English NT)

1. And after the (fifty) days of Shavuot (Pentecost)14 were fulfilled,15 all were assembled as one. 2. All of a sudden there was a sound from heaven like a roaring wind16 and all that House17 in which they were sitting was filled. 3. And (it) appeared to them like tongues divided, and fire sat upon every one of them. 4. And all of them were filled with the Ruach haKodesh, and they were compelled to speak in different tongues,18 just as the Spirit had given them to speak. 5. Now there were men who were living in Urishlim who feared Elohim - Jews from all nations that are under heaven. 6. And when that sound occurred, all the people gathered and were disturbed because they were hearing each man among them who were speaking in their own language. 7. Now they were astonished, all of them, and wondered while they were saying one-to-another, “Can’t grasp it!” These, all of them who are speaking, are Galileans. 8. “How do we hear, we each man the tongue in which we were born?” 9. Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those who dwell in Beth-Nahrin, and Cappadocians, and those from the areas of Pontus, and of Asia. 10. And those from the areas of Phrygia, and of Pamphylia, and of Egypt, and of the areas of Libya that are near to Cyrene, and those who have come from Rome - Jews and proselytes. 11. And those from Crete, and Arabians. “Behold we are hearing from them that they are proclaiming the wonders of Elohim in our language!”19 12. And they were astonished, and all of them were amazed while saying one-to-another, “What’s happening?” 13. But others were mocking them while saying, “These (men) drank new wine and have become drunk!” 14. Afterwards, Shimon Keefa stood up among the eleven Shlichim and lifted up his voice and said to them, “Men, Jews, and all who dwell in Urishlim. Let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. 15. For (it is) not as you think (that) these (men) are drunk, for behold, it is now (only) until the third hour. 16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Yoel. 17. Elohim said, In later days20 it will be (that) I will pour out my Ruach upon all flesh, and your sons will prophesy and your daughters and your young men will see visions, and your elders will dream dreams. 18. And upon my servants and upon handmaids I will pour out my Ruach in those days. And they will prophesy. 19. And I will cause signs in heaven and mighty deeds upon the earth: blood, and fire, and columns of smoke, 20. the sun will be changed into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of Master YHWH. 21. And it will be (that) all who call (on) the name of Master YHWH will be saved.21 22. Men, sons of Israel, listen to these words Y’shua the Nazarene, a man, who by Elohim was shown to you with miracles and with signs and with acts of power, those that Elohim did among you by his hand as you know.

 

 

Note 14: The loan word pentaqostia (fiftieth day) appears here and in 1 Corinthians 16:8. Tradition has it that Luke translated for Paul, who would have used this term for the benefit of a Gentile audience. Luke’s upbringing in Syrian Antioch prepared him for toggling between Semitic and Gentile terminology. On the other hand, in Israel where the Gospels originated, Aramaic paskha, the direct cognate of pesach, was being used for “Passover” and was later loaned into Greek. Loanwords going either from Aramaic into Greek or vice versa are the effect of this time when Semitic culture was dominated by Greco-Roman power. Without loanwords, the Peshitta could not be authentic.

 

Note 15: This means, “after the days counting the Omer were fulfilled.” The English could be misconstrued to mean after the days of the feast itself were completed. However, Aramaic literally reads “after the days of pentaqostia were fulfilled” or, “after the 50 day period was reached.” “Pentecost” is used here as both a technical term to refer to the feast and a time marker. Also the actual day was Shabbat (Saturday) morning, not Sunday as many Christians assume. The last day of the omer count ended at sunset on Friday, May 24th in the year 30 CE, so the disciples were “assembled as one” on the following morning after Shavuot ended, when the Ruach haKodesh came.

 

Note 16: Or “groaning spirit.”

 

Note 17: “House” here refers to the Temple; see Matthew 12:4; 21:13; Luke 2:49; John 2:16, 17, not the “upper room” of 1:13. It is the Day of Shavuot; Y’shua’s disciples are gathered together in the Father’s House. Luke 24:53 states the disciples were “at all times in the temple.” The Ruach haKodesh is openly poured out in full view of those in attendance at the Temple, not in some hidden place. Y’shua was known to visit the Temple daily. In the early mornings he taught those who came to learn of the Kingdom of Elohim; see Luke 21:36-38.

 

Note 18: The universal remedy to the confusion of language at Bavel, Genesis 11:9, is to learn the language of the Spirit that unifies all souls in righteousness.

 

Note 19: All the tongues listed here are man-made; these are not angelic or heavenly. The gift of angelic tongues, the issue of genuineness aside, cannot be linked to this event in Acts 2 or to the Shavuot-Pentecost holiday. Please see footnotes on 2:17, Yochanan 20:22, and Founders of the all Gentile Church: Tertullian 155-230 CE in Appendix.

 

Note 20: The later (last or latter) days, “acharit hayamim” in Hebrew, is the season when “the Day of YHWH” will be fulfilled. The acharit hayamim and Day of YHWH references prophecies regarding Mashiyach ben David. Shimon Keefa assumed he was witnessing the acharit hayamim since Y’shua had overtly fulfilled the prophecies of Mashiyach ben Yosef (the suffering servant), but he would have had no idea when Mashiyach would return as Mashiyach ben David to fulfill the many elements spoken of by Joel and the other Prophets of YHWH. Please see footnote on Acts 28:28

 

Note 21: Joel 3:1-5 (2:28-32). See Salvation in Appendix.

Send us out in the Spirit of Elijah!

 

THE GOOD NEWS ACCORDING TO MATTHEW Chapter 28: (Aramaic English NT)

18. And Y’shua drew near and spoke with them and said to them, “All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth. And as my Father has sent me, I send you. 19. Go therefore, make disciples of all nations and immerse them in the name299 of the Father and of the Son and of the Ruach haKodesh. 20. And teach them to keep all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world.300 Amen.”

 

Note 299: Aramaic has “name” – singular – which does not support the traditional trinity theology. Ruach haKodesh is a title for YHWH, see Isaiah 63:1-11; Psalm 51:1-11. The Son has his Father’s Name within him and the Father keeps His people in His Name; John 17:11. As a result, imagine three branches of the same tree rather than three separate trees. Each branch is united by the Name/Title of the One Divine Personality that is YHWH Elohim. This linkage is established in Shemot/ Exodus 23:20-22 where a Messenger, unlike any other “angel” can forgive sin because YHWH says, “for My Name is in Him”. All other “angels” have EL in their name but Y’shua’s Name is above the angels, hence Yah/YHWH is in Y’shua’s name (Matthew 1:21, Hebrews 1:1-5). Nazarenes have from the very beginning taught salvation in the Name of YHWH. See Immerser in Appendix.

 

Note 300: Or end of the age, as Aramaic alma means both. The exact meanings apply to the Greek word aion used here, making this one of the few times where an original Aramaic word is perfectly matched with the Greek.

…and the Spirit of Elijah is – no picnic!

 

The spirit of Elijah belongs to people of destiny. But we cannot discover God’s will and our destiny without living in the spirit. When we speak about the anointing of Elijah, we don’t mean that anointing was his. It was God’s anointing on Elijah. And when we say “the days of Elijah,” we don’t mean days of revival but days of darkness as God worked through that mighty prophet. (Quote: Benny Hinn Ministries)